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Meet Monsieur, a 'smart' at-home bartender

By Staff, Relaxnews

Posted:
10/03/2013 06:04:47 AM MDT

Monsieur may, at first glance, look like a vending machine, but it is actually an AI-driven drink-mixing automaton able to learn your moods, needs and preferences to make sure it always serves you the right drink, at the right time, no matter how discerning or exacting your tastes.

The Monsieur artificially intelligent robotic bartender. It can mix hundreds of different cocktails just the way you like them. (Monsieur/Kickstarter)

The baby brother of a much larger, industrial machine that can be found in a number of establishments in Atlanta (the company's hometown), the Monsieur can mix literally thousands of drinks and features a touchscreen menu of everything it has to offer, from Whiskey Sours to vodka Martinis and beyond. Users can increase or reduce the strength of any desired drink or even ask for a non-alcoholic version if they're that way inclined. Or, for the more adventurous, there's always the 'surprise me' button. And the more the machine is used, the better it becomes at understanding its owners' tastes and preferences.

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But the high-tech shenanigans don't stop there; no 'smart' appliance could dare to call itself so without an app, and the Monsieur is no exception. The app can be used to remotely order and mix a drink while the machine can use the app to know when you're coming home and what sort of drink it should have ready for your return. For example, if it's been a long day at the office, expect double measures, his and hers cocktails on date night and the offer of a cocktail if your team wins a game.

The company has turned to Kickstarter to bring the device not only into the home, but into bars, clubs and hotel lobbies around the world and is looking to raise $100,000 towards further development and manufacturing costs. Once a network of smart bartenders exists, then no matter where you go, as long as you have your Monsieur app installed and open on your phone you'll always get the drink you want, the way that you like it. And like all good barmen, it will know when you've had enough. It can monitor blood alcohol levels and can even call a cab if need be.

If the campaign is a success, then the company plans to offer two versions of the machine: The Monsieur Mini -- which can hold four types of alcohol and four mixers -- and the Monsieur -- which can hold eight of each. The devices can also be customized with a host of downloadable themes, such as 'Irish Pub', 'Tiki Bar' and 'Mardi Gras' and offer similarly themed drinks menus.

However, as well as knowing when to say 'No,' one of the other crucial tenants of good bartending is stocktaking and being sure that when a regular walks through the door and says 'the usual' he or she won't be disappointed. Monsieur can send its owner a text message or emailed shopping list when supplies are running low or, if activated, can trigger a delivery from a local store.

If the campaign reaches its goal, the company hopes to start selling the Monsieur Mini for $2299 and the Monsieur for $2699 by spring 2014. The company is also offering 10 earlybird versions of each machine, priced at $1999 and $2299 to get the ball rolling. But it looks as if backers won't need any further encouragement. Though the campaign only went live on Tuesday and is scheduled to run until November, it is already halfway towards its final target, having raised over $50,000.

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